Elwood Community High School - Crescent Yearbook (Elwood, IN)

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 od. Mr. Meeks was made principal in 'D1 and assisted Superintendent Fit .gibbon in teaching the high school. Late in October. 1891, Mr. Fitz-gibbon asked the State Hoard of Education for a commission. In reply to this request L. ,11. Jones, superintendent of the Indianapolis Schools and head of the district, which was composed of the Eighth Congressional District, came to Elwood and spent a day visiting the classes, lie reported next week to the Hoard of Education and recommended the school for a commission, complimenting highly the work of the Senior class in Geometry and Latin. As a result of his visit and recommendation, Elwood Secured its commission during the fall of '92. The course of study changed and now a four-year course was offered. The subjects were as follows: 1st year—Algebra, Englisn, Latin and Physical Geography; 2nd year— Algebra, Latin. English and Botany; 3rd year —Latin, English, General History and Plain Geometry; 4t'n year—English. Latin, Physics BOTANY LABORATORY In 1893 it was decided that a new building would be erected and the old eight-room school s was tern down. School was held in the Linwood building for two years. The contractors had promised the new building for the fall of ‘95. Owing to an unavoidable delay they were unable to fulfill their premise and after hav- CHEMISTRY LABORATORY and Solid Geometry, the first half cf the year with a choice of Civics or Commercial Arithmetic the last half of the year. This was the only elective. A small building of eight rooms first served as a high school and grade school. The high school classes were held in the upper corridor, which was about nine feet wide with a stairway in the center and a stove at one side. The blackboard was four feet square. For the study cf Physics the school possessed no opparatus and the students and their teacher made from wood a few pieces of apparatus such as levers, bal-rrces. etc. The class went to the plumbing shop for the study of air. gas and water pressure. Paco Five

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 THE CRESCENT '920 f History of Elwood High School IX 18S8 H. F. Wiiekie tcc k i p Is is dutits us superintendent cf the Elwood schools. At this time the schools were not graded. Mr. Willkie prepared a ccuisa and presented it to the Board of Education for adoption. As an instructor in the high school he taught Algebra, Arithmetic and Latin. The other teacher in the school was Daniel King. In the winter of 1889-1890 Mr. Willkie filed an application for a commission. The high s hool did net come up to the standard and as a result Mr. Willkie's efforts were cf no avail. Mr. T. F. Fitzgibbon succeeded Mr. Willkie as supet intendent in the fall of 1890. At that time the high school course was of two years’ duration. Mr. Fitzgibbon was the sole instructor of the forty-two high school pupils. In addition to his duties as a tracker he was obliged to spend one hour each day in the inspection oi the seven grade rooms. In order that he might sec t’ e different phases cf the woik he arranged his schedule so that his hour came at different periods. It was sug- gested that the janitor should come in and watch over the high school during his hour but Mr. Fitzgibbon refused to follow this advice, saying that he could trust his little band of forty-two to report on themselves if any trouble arose. Everything went well for a month and then one evening a boy remained after dismissal. Mr. Fitzgibbon inquired, “What can I do for you, Charles?” “Nothing,” was the reply. “I wish to do something for you.” “Well, what is it ? asked the teacher. “Everything has gone well and no one has tried to take advantage of your trust in us until today,” he said. “I brought an apple to school; cut it into pieces and passed it among some of the students, but don't you know net a one would touch it, and the apple is in the waste basket now.” “Why didn't you eat it?” inquired Mr. Fitzgibbon. “Well’ just because I couldn’t.” “Charles” is now a prominent business man. In 1891 and ’92 the total enrollment had increased thirteen, there being fifty-five enroll- -r r

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ing waited until the First of October, high school was opened in the Odd Fellows hall, rented by the school board for that purpose. Lessons were recite dhere under great difficulties; the only school room furniture in use was a few desks and tables, long settees and blackboards made from lumber. During this time a few recitations were held in a barber shop. By February 1, 1895, the new school was completed and the students took up their work in what is now the Central building, then regarded as the finest building in the county. The grade school and high school both held their classes in this building until September, 191 ), when the present up-to-date high school building was completed. INTERIOR VIEW DOMESTIC SCIENCE To the Elwood of about 2,:‘ 00 people the fiist commencement exercises were of utmost importance as a token of a certain goal attained. '•'he following article is quoted from the Elwood Call, June 4, 1892: “The first annual commencement of the Elwood high school came off last night in the opeia house, and was acted out strictly as per program published in this paper. The stage was appropriately decked with flowers, while suspended above the foot light in large and nicely arranged letters was the class motto, ‘Through many difficulties.’ The opera house was packed with people, showing the appreciation of the Elwood public for educational interests and local literary efforts. The first on the program was a piano duet, which was performed in a pleasing manner by Mrs. E. E. Green and Edgar Watson. After this concluded the curtain rolled up disclosing the five graduates conveniently arranged, the Elwood •quartet, composed of Ed Osborn, Melvin Beck, Everett Frazier and .John Lyst, the principal and the superintendent, Prof. Charles Meek and Prof. T. F. Fitzgibbon, Misses Stella Green and Sallie McCarthy, Rev. Jamison and John Goddard, who represented the class of ’93. “Rev. Philip Jamison invoked Divine blessing in his usual earnest and happy manner, alter which Misses Stella Green and Sallie Mc- Carthy rendered a beautiful duet. The practical work of the occasion now began, Miss Cora Bovden delivering her address upon the subject, ‘Shall the High School Have Electives?’ “This was a very excellent and thoughtful literary production, rendered in an impressive and attractive manner. Miss Cora had her address well committed, and imparted to the audience its fidl force and meaning. She argued for the affirmative side of the question, and clearly proved her [joint. She concluded with a glowing tribute to American educational institutions and the still brighter prospect dawning. ' 1’he Nature and Mission of Literature,’ was the theme chosen by Miss Jennie Cox for her graduating address, and rigli royally did she handle a topic so full of wondrous interest and of paramount importance to the human race. She pointed out the mission of literature, and named over works that can never die, and whose influence will be felt until the end of time. Miss Jennie carried off the honors of the class, and her production was listened to with interest. It was replete with choice literary morsels and brilliant original passages from her own mind. Her production was all that was excellent and full of good thoughts. “ I'be Elwood quartet here interspersed one of its excellent songs. Being called back they responded with one verse of ‘Carry Me Back Papre Six